Candidates Go On Hunger Strike, Jack Daniels Woos Reporters With Booze and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 19

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from around the world of money in politics:

HUNGRY FOR CHANGE: For little-known candidates facing well-financed incumbents, a malnourished campaign is a reality: Without money or the attention of the media, the sad truth your candidacy will often starve itself into oblivion before you can even reach Election Day.

Two such candidates in the race for California’s 52nd District, however, seem to have found a way to turn their disadvantage into a teachable moment — by going on hunger strikes.

Claiming incumbent Republican Duncan Hunter is stonewalling the candidates by refusing to engage in a series of eight debates in August, Democrat Ray Lutz and Libertarian Mike Benoit are in their first week of a planned 10-day protest. And there’s sign that it may be working — to an extent. Their ability to turn a dearth in resources into a living metaphor has earned both candidates some media coverage, as they’ve been picked up this week by the New York Times, Politico and several other political blogs.

Still, according to the Times, Hunter, who is in his first re-election race after inheriting the congressional seat from his father (who is also named Duncan Hunter), hasn’t budged from his agreement to just a few debates.

The incumbent congressman has a significant lead in the money race. Having raised more than $562,000, Hunter had $93,339 at the end of June, compared to just Lutz’s $6,037. Mike Beloit has yet to file campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission — typically a sign that the candidate simply has no money to report.

RNC VISUALIZES DEMS SLIP SLIDING AWAY FROM OBAMA: The latest election season attempt by a political party to co-opt a national news story and turn it into political gain comes from the Republican National Committee.

No, not that news story — this one isn’t about mosques or Ground Zero, but a former-airline attendant-turned national object of admiration, Steven Slater. Slater captured the hearts and minds of many Americans last week, after he abruptly quit his job aboard a JetBlue airliner in a show of protest. Rather waiting for the grounded plane to taxi to its proper terminal, Slater opted to pop open the escape hatch and ride the inflatable slide to the tarmac.

Now the RNC is running an ad depicting congressional Democrats in a similarly desperate situation — so eager are they to escape association with President Barack Obama and his sagging approval image, that congressional Democrats opt for the emergency exit slide, as well. Zing!

‘EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL …INCLUDING WHISKEY’: With untold numbers of special interests groups circulating Washington at any given time, we can see how for some political reporters, keeping track of them might be difficult.

Pour out some props, then, to a group that knows how to get some attention.

According to Politico, venerable rye distiller Jack Daniels is sending out press kits to political journalists in an effort to draw their focus to an issue near and dear to their heart by celebrating “Jack Daniels Day.” The company wants to make the 160th anniversary of its founder — which happens this September — a national holiday, and seem to be starting in the right place. (Politico reported the story only after receiving a package.)

Included in the gift bags are (naturally) a small bottle of whiskey, and some clothing items that bear the official insignia for the BACK JACK campaign. According to the press kit, the movement will soon be starting in earnest on a Facebook page near you.

Meanwhile, this political reporter would like to point out that he has yet to receive his gift. (He is forgiving and prefers good ol’ No. 7.)

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